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To increase the sustainability of prefabricated timber buildings and constructions, composite timber beams with “box” cross-sections were developed in collaboration with an industry partner. They were constructed from a solid timber frame and from webs made of residual waste wood-particle boards from prefabricated timber buildings production. The developed beams’ design concepts presented in this paper were governed by architectural features of prefabricated timber buildings, geometrical limitations, available production technology, and structural demand related to various possible applications. The paper presents the results of experimental bending tests of six variations of the developed composite timber beams constructed by mechanical fasteners only. The developed design concept of composite timber beams without adhesives is beneficial compared to glued beams in terms of design for deconstruction and lower VOC emissions. The tests were conducted to study the influence of the following parameters on the beams’ mechanical behavior: (i) web material (oriented strand boards (OSBs) vs. cement-particle boards); (ii) the influence of beam timber frame design (flanges and web stiffeners vs. flanges, web stiffeners, and compressive diagonals), and (iii) the influence of stiffener–flange joint design. Besides the beams’ load-bearing capacities, their linear and non-linear stiffness characteristics were the main research interest. While adding compressive timber diagonals did not prove to significantly increase the stiffness of the beams in the case of cement-particle board webs, it increased their load-bearing capacity by enabling the failure of flanges instead of prior webs and stiffener–flange joints failure. For beams with OSB webs, failure of the bottom flange was achieved already with the “basic” timber frame design, but timber diagonals proved beneficial to increase the stiffness characteristics. Finally, mechanical characteristics of the developed beams needed in structural design for their application are provided together with further development guidelines.

The structural performance of historical masonry elements can be understood provided the following factors are known: geometry; the characteristics of its masonry texture and morphology, state of damage and decay, physical, chemical and mechanical characteristics of the components (units, infill, mortar); the characteristics of built masonry as a composite material. In order to quantify the mechanical properties of the masonry both laboratory and in-situ tests are required. However, in the case of cultural heritage assets, the setting up of an effective knowledge procedure is strictly related to the minimization of invasiveness on the structure, with the aim of its conservation, rather than the cost–benefit optimization: thus it is essential to have available reference parameters to be adopted for different masonry types. Within this context, this State-of-the-Art paper on this topic is organized with integrated outcomes from the test campaigns carried out through the PERPETUATE project, that are also briefly presented. Reference parameters for effective seismic assessment are provided both for brick and stone masonry together with their upper and lower bound values for both mechanical parameters and damage limits for which proper limit states (LS) may be associated. Apart from the LS for structural elements (SE), the relevant LS’s for artistic assets attached to the SE are also presented in this paper.

The paper presents the application of the seismic assessment procedure developed in the PERPETUATE project on a single monument, the Neoclassical School in the Medieval City of Rhodes. The PERPETUATE methodology for the estimation of seismic risk of cultural heritage assets is based on the principles of performance-based assessment ( PBA ), using nonlinear static procedures. The outcome of the PBA methodology is the maximum seismic intensity measure compatible to different performance levels. The focus of the paper is on the application of the methodology, considering the effects of both soil–foundation–structure interaction ( SFSI ) and masonry foundation flexibility on the building response, before and after rehabilitation design measures. It is found that SFSI and foundation flexibility produce larger displacements and reduce the maximum ground acceleration that the building can sustain by over 50 %. However, despite the detrimental effects of SFSI on the acceleration capacity, SFSI and foundation flexibility may have a favorable effect on the structure safety, as they modify the collapse mechanism. The results of seismic analyses showed that the building, in its current state, does not sustain the demands for the Life Safety and Collapse Prevention performance levels. Stiffening the roof of the structure and providing sufficient anchorage to the structure, along with systematic grouting of the masonry walls, are the principal rehabilitation decisions considered herein. Mitigation measures were evaluated, considering SFSI and the analyses revealed the adequacy of the proposed retrofitting measure, which combines vertical (wall) and horizontal (roof) stiffening.

In cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings, in order to reduce the disturbing transmission of sound over the flanking parts, special insulation layers are used between the CLT walls and slabs, together with insulated angle-bracket connections. However, the influence of such CLT connections and insulation layers on the seismic resistance of CLT structures has not yet been studied. In this paper, experimental investigation on CLT panels installed on insulation bedding and fastened to the CLT floor using an innovative, insulated, steel angle bracket, are presented. The novelty of the investigated angle-bracket connection is, in addition to the sound insulation, its resistance to both shear as well as uplift forces as it is intended to be used instead of traditional angle brackets and hold-down connections to simplify the construction. Therefore, monotonic and cyclic tests on the CLT wall-to-floor connections were performed in shear and tensile/compressive load direction. Specimens with and without insulation under the angle bracket and between the CLT panels were studied and compared. Tests of insulated specimens have proved that the insulation has a marginal influence on the load-bearing capacity; however, it significantly influences the stiffness characteristics. In general, the experiments have shown that the connection could also be used for seismic resistant CLT structures, although some minor improvements should be made.

Within the framework of PERPETUATE project for the case study in Slovenia, the 150 year old Kolizej Palace in Ljubljana was set. The building was for a long time neglected and severely deteriorated due to ageing and moisture problems. Despite the overall opinion among conservators upon its preservation, it was set to be demolished. Prior it’s demolishing in 2011 extensive on-site investigation was carried out, which provided valuable data regarding the influence of deteriorated masonry on the seismic response of the building. Experimental tests proved almost completely saturated moisture conditions in the ground level of the building, while all the stories above were in almost dry condition. The results of tests on masonry revealed that moisture content and state of deterioration affected both strength and stiffness properties of built masonry in large extend. Regardless adopted modelling strategies the vulnerability assessment of the Kolizej Palace has proved that the building in its latest condition was far behind the current code requirements in respect to both static and seismic actions.

In the paper, possibilities of correlation of structural damage and damage of attached artistic assets on multi-leaf stone masonry walls by means of destructive and non-destructive testing (NDT) methods are investigated. Results from two testing campaigns carried out at the University of Genoa and University of Ljubljana are briefly presented. In particular, diagonal tests with different levels of pre-compression and shear tests under different boundary conditions were carried out in Genoa and Ljubljana, respectively. During the tests, different damage limit states (DL) of both masonry walls (SE) and attached plasters (AA) were investigated by means of NDT’s. Two different types of rubble stone masonry were considered (uncoursed random rubble vs. coursed squared rubble). For AA the results are presented in relative form in dependence from the DL of SE. Obtained results are influenced both by the type of test and tested masonry. Results of NDT revealed strong potential and a need for data fusing of both investigated methods for the evaluation of the state of the degradation behind the plaster.

In the context of the European Green Deal, achieving a climate-neutral building stock by 2050 has become a key objective. The 2024-revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) highlights this goal by requiring EU Member States to transform their long-term renovation strategies into practical National Renovation Plans. The LIFE project GreenRenoV8 supports the practical implementation of the EPBD by developing a scalable, cost-effective methodology for deep, sustainable building renovation. By combining the environmental performance with the economic implications (both investment and life cycle cost), the project aims to identify the most cost-effective renovation strategies. GreenRenoV8 focuses on five EU Member States: Austria, Belgium (Flanders region), Greece, Italy and Slovenia. A stock modelling approach is used, starting with the identification of representative building archetypes per country. For each archetype, specific renovation strategies are developed and their life cycle environmental impact, investment cost and life cycle cost are assessed. The results are extrapolated to the national level to determine the most cost-effective measures and to prioritiže these. The modelling moreover incorporates seismic resilience where required. This paper describes the approach taken within the GreenRenoV8 project to support evidence-based renovation planning that maximižes environmental impact reduction and cost-effectiveness across the EU.